Skills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)

Michael Tomlinson Excerpts
Tuesday 7th December 2021

(2 years, 11 months ago)

Public Bill Committees
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Alex Burghart Portrait Alex Burghart
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On a point of order, Mrs Miller. I hope you will indulge me for a few moments so that I can thank you and Mr Efford for the way in which you have shepherded us through these six sittings. It has been an honour and a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, particularly as this is my first Bill Committee on the Front Bench—

Alex Burghart Portrait Alex Burghart
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Who knows? Perhaps it will be the last. It has been a pleasure to hear a debate of this quality, to enjoy Opposition Members’ paeans to the heady days of Thatcherism when there were great opportunities in the Manchester region, and to hear their fulsome praise for former Conservative Secretaries of State for Education. It is has been a privilege to listen to the sometimes philosophical debates about whether BTECs are brands. I feel that for the sake of future historians, we should put in Hansard how cold it has been in Committee Room 14. On one occasion, an hon. Lady had to bring in a blanket and wrap herself in it. Mrs Miller, thanks to you and Mr Efford, we have survived, and we look forward to taking the Bill forward.

Skills and Post-16 Education Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)

Michael Tomlinson Excerpts
Alex Burghart Portrait Alex Burghart
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

On a point of order, Mrs Miller. I hope you will indulge me for a few moments so that I can thank you and Mr Efford for the way in which you have shepherded us through these six sittings. It has been an honour and a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, particularly as this is my first Bill Committee on the Front Bench—

Alex Burghart Portrait Alex Burghart
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

Who knows? Perhaps it will be the last. It has been a pleasure to hear a debate of this quality, to enjoy Opposition Members’ paeans to the heady days of Thatcherism when there were great opportunities in the Manchester region, and to hear their fulsome praise for former Conservative Secretaries of State for Education. It is has been a privilege to listen to the sometimes philosophical debates about whether BTECs are brands. I feel that for the sake of future historians, we should put in Hansard how cold it has been in Committee Room 14. On one occasion, an hon. Lady had to bring in a blanket and wrap herself in it. Mrs Miller, thanks to you and Mr Efford, we have survived, and we look forward to taking the Bill forward.

Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Twelfth sitting)

Michael Tomlinson Excerpts
Wednesday 22nd September 2021

(3 years, 2 months ago)

Public Bill Committees
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As I said, I hope to improve the legislation. This is largely a probing amendment, so I do not anticipate dividing the committee, as the Front Bench will be pleased to know.

Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill (Eighth sitting)

Michael Tomlinson Excerpts
Thursday 16th September 2021

(3 years, 2 months ago)

Public Bill Committees
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Lloyd Russell-Moyle Portrait Lloyd Russell-Moyle
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We had the equivalent discussion with regard to academics; we talked about what would happen with a visiting academic. Yes, they would be protected in their own institution, but they would not necessarily be protected as a visitor, so that is why we put forward amendments. We have the same issues about, in effect, visiting students. This applies particularly to London. London University, as a federal university, will have overlapping student unions. Unfortunately, we have seen the demise of the University of London union, which is a great shame for the University of London. I think that, bizarrely, was done for political purposes. I am convinced that the last few presidents and leaders of the University of London union were too-left-wing rabble-rousers. It was fed up with it, and fed up with the London Student newspaper being too much of a pain, and it shut it down, so that is an example. Would this Bill prevent the shutting down of the University of London union, which was shut down in my—

Michael Tomlinson Portrait The Lord Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Treasury (Michael Tomlinson)
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On a point of order, Mrs Cummins. I wonder about the relevance of this. The hon. Gentleman will forgive me for having interrupted him earlier by muttering from a sedentary position, which I do not do now; I rise to make it perfectly clear. Is this at all relevant to the amendment or clause?

None Portrait The Chair
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I am sure that the hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown heard that point of order, and that he will bring his remarks, which will be directed at the amendment, to a conclusion.